Meant to be in Red Capris

Megan M •  Illinois  •  29

I had just turned 11 and was in my first few weeks of 6th grade. I felt totally fine that day, nothing out of the ordinary. I was leaving my history class and felt wetness in my pants, I was so confused! I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror and saw my capris were a different color on the bum, still very confused.

I went into the stall and pulled my pants down. They looked wet. The reason being is I had been wearing RED capris that day! If that wasn't the universe helping me out I don't know what it is!

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I dabbed at my pants with toilet paper and it came off red. For a second, I thought it was just because of my pants, I was so clueless! I sat on the toilet for a bit and when I stood up to wipe I realized the bowl was filled with blood. I was so nervous and scared. I had seen how much pain the period had caused my mom that I knew what I was in for.

I waddled to the nurse where she called my mom and took me home. I had blood all over my legs so I showered and recollected myself. My mom then loaded me up with pads and it wasn't until 8th grade that my friend and I learned how to insert a tampon together, stall by stall at a water park! Ha! We've been close since!

This Period Slaps

Morgan W •  Pennsylvania  •  31

My parents separated for four years, starting when I was eight. At 11, I was at my dad’s house as it was his weekend. My mom would meet my dad at a CVS parking lot every other Friday afternoon to hand off my siblings and me. It was a halfway point.

On Saturday morning when I went to the bathroom, I noticed a brown discharge. I didn’t know what to do, so I ignored it. I certainly wasn’t going to talk to my dad about it.

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The next day, returning to my mom’s house, it was definitely more of a red color when I went to the bathroom. I asked my mom for help and she got so excited, and insisted on following the Jewish ritual of slapping me, or in her case, giving me a gentle tap on the face. She treated it as rite of passage, but I just felt really unprepared. None of my friends had gotten theirs yet and the pads felt like diapers.

Close for Comfort

April F •  New Jersey  •  30

I was at my dad’s for the weekend, went to the bathroom first thing in the AM and saw blood. Scared, I yelled for my new stepmom who I wasn’t quite close with yet. My dad came to the door, but I demanded my stepmom only.

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It was our first bonding moment as she comforted me and taught me how to handle it. Now that she has passed, I hold that moment so close to my heart.